the POSH Guide News » Phuket

Angsana Unveils Phuket Resort

Michael — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:35:58 +0000

Ansana, the new ‘lite’ brand from resort operator Banyan Tree, has opened their first Thai resort, in Phuket. The ‘new’ Angsana Laguna Phuket occupies the old Sherataon Laguna resort, which has been extensively remodeled to the tune of 30 Million Dollars. The new rooms range from the 40 square meter Laguna Room through one and two-bedroom lofts and on to the 490 square meter, four bedroom Angsana Grande Pool Residence.

The 'Laguna Grande' room at the Angsana Phuket (photo from Angsana)

The resort offers several restaurants, and will have its own beach club early next year. Since it’s part of the integrated Laguna resort complex, you can also dine at the other hotels and resorts in the complex and charge to your room. There’s also a full service spa, of course.

The official opening date is 1 December 2011. There’s a special introductory offer starting at 6,100 Baht per night, including breakfast for two, for stays between 1 December 2011 and 27 February 2012. If you book two or more nights, you’ll get a 3,000 Baht hotel credit that can be used at any dining outlet or at the spa. For a booking of three nights or more you’ll get a complimentary 90 minute massage in addition to the 3,000 Baht credit.

Visit the Angsana web site for booking and additional information.

Outrigger Phuket Adds New Suites

Michael — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 06:56:13 +0000

Outrigger Laguna Phuket, part of the huge Laguna enclave in Bangtao, has added 19 more one, two and three-bedroom suites. The added rooms are in a new self-contained ‘mountain view’ area of the resort, with its own swimming pool, pool bar, gym and restaurant.

The spacious living room of the suites at Outrigger Laguna Phuket

All of the new rooms have fully equipped kitchens, separate living rooms and private balconies. The three-bedroom top floor suites have en-suite bathrooms for each of the three bedrooms.

As an introductory offer, Outrigger is running a "Stay three, pay two" promotion. Guests booking at the best available rate for stays before 31 October 2011 will get three nights’ stay for the price of two nights. See the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort web site for more information.

Amanpuri Adds Pool Villas

Michael — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 05:03:21 +0000

Amanresort’s oldest property, the Amanpuri in Phuket, has added private plunge pools to three of its villas. The pools are 3 meters wide by 7 to 10 meters long. Rates on the new rooms for the current high season range from US$ 1,500 to US$ 2,550 for the two bedroom pavilion.

"Located on the west coast of Phuket, off Thailand’s southern coast, Amanpuri overlooks the blue expanse of the Andaman Sea from a sheltered headland, offering 40 Thai-styled pavilions and 30 private villa homes elegantly spaced within a grove of swaying coconut palms. At the foot of a sweep of stone steps lies the white crescent of Pansea Beach, secluded and unspoilt — a wide swath of sand for guests alone."

See the Amanresorts web site for details.

Special Opening Offers at the Westin Siray Bay

Michael — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:33:42 +0000

The all new Wesin Siray Bay Resort & Spa officially opens for business on 1 August 2010, and to celebrate they have some fantastic rates on offer. Starting at just 2,010 Baht (US $59) for a superior ocean view room, for any day of the week, the special rates must be booked by 30 September, for stays before 31 October 2010.

The new resort is located on Siray Island, just off Phuket’s east coast, about a 10 minute drive from Phuket Town. Situated on its own little beach, the resort should feel like being on a island, yet you’re just minutes away from the sights and restaurants of Phuket’s old town area.

See the Westin Siray Bay web site for more details.

More Great Deals from Banyan Tree

Michael — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:14:40 +0000

Banyan Tree has just sent me word of more great deals at their Bangkok and Phuket properties:

Bangkok Banyan Tree Introduces New Club Rooms

The Banyan Tree in Bangkok has just put the finishing touches on 46 new "club" rooms. To celebrate, they’re offering special perks on every stay from 17 March to 30 June 2010.

Starting at THB6,480++ (approximately US$195++) per night, with savings up to 50%, the exclusive Perks promotion includes accommodation in a Banyan Tree Club Room, daily breakfast for two, as well as a choice of one of the five following experiences:

One-way limousine transfer to Bangkok International Airport, valued at THB2,700 (approximately US$82)
A 90-minute massage session worth THB3,200 (approximately US$96) at the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa, including choice of Balinese, Asian Blend, Lomi Lomi, and more
A THB2,300 (approximately US$70) Banyan Tree Gallery gift voucher for retail purchases, such as a Banyan Tree oil burner and essential oil, spa and toiletries gift sets, and handmade village crafts
A glass of cognac and cigar, valued at THB1,760 (approximately US$53) to enjoy at the open-air, 61st storey Moon Bar lounge for a truly priceless experience as one takes in the panoramic bird’s eye view of the city
One of four Movie Packages worth THB1,804 (approximately US$55) for in-room theater entertainment

Make your booking at the Banyan Tree web site. Book fast and you may also get a free night at Banyan Tree’s soon to open Samui property.

Phuket Banyan Tree Introduces New Deluxe Two-Bedroom Pool Villas

Award-winning Banyan Tree Phuket is poised to launch its new Deluxe Two Bedroom Pool Villas, a long-awaited category of its signature villas geared towards providing an escape for the family. Available from 1 March 2010, the cluster of 22 Deluxe Two Bedroom Pool Villas will provide an ideal setting for quality bonding and relaxation for grandparents, parents, and children. In tandem with the new villa categories, a new program dubbed Banyan Tree Rangers has been introduced for children aged five to ten, to immerse them in the five senses of the natural world.

Starting 1 March 2010, guests can book the Family Occasions summer package, where for every three consecutive nights’ of stay, the cost of menu lunches and dinners for guests’ children under 12 years old will be waived, while the adults enjoy a US$100 food credit per villa per night. Valid for stays from 15 April to 31 October 2010, accommodation will be in the new Deluxe Two-Bedroom Pool Villa, starting from THB 29,500+++ (approximately US$894+++) per night for up to six people, inclusive daily breakfast.

Mr. Francois Huet, General Manager of Banyan Tree Phuket as well as a Vice President with the Banyan Tree Group, welcomes the trend of soft family adventures. Mr. Huet explains, "Couples who have enjoyed various types of holidays prior to starting their families have more options than ever to continue their adventures as their children grow up. Shared experiences become more enriching as families choose discerning, activity-enriched destinations such as Banyan Tree Phuket. It’s a win-win situation as parents do not have to sacrifice their comfort and style for kid-friendly facilities, and children of all ages do not have to sacrifice their play time and exploration in an adult-friendly environment."

Make your booking at the Banyan Tree web site.

Phuket Yacht Charters

Michael — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:18:14 +0000

Just back from Singapore, and have a number of updates backlogged, so let’s get right to it:

I just found out about another luxury yacht charter outfit based in Phuket. Omni Marine offers a range of boats for charter, from the sleek Ferretti 680 motor yacht to the Queen of the Andaman, a luxury sailing yacht already featured in my Phuket pages. Charters can be for anything from an afternoon deep sea fishing to week long diving and snorkeling trips through the Andaman islands.

The Phuket Insider Launches

Michael — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:11:51 +0000

Bill Barnett, of C9 Hotelworks and one of the region’s most experienced people in hotel and property developments, has launched "The Phuket Insider". The Phuket Insider hopes to be "The Source for All Hotel & Real Estate News" and promises "to provide independent and intelligent news and commentary on the rapidly developing Greater Phuket storyline. You won’t find banner ads, hotel bargains, condos for sale or Google AdWords on the site, it is purely relevant information as it happens without the mass commercialization," according to Barnett.

The new site already contains archives of Barnett’s numerous articles for the Phuket Gazette, as well as clips of his appearances on CNBC, Channel News Asia, and other programs. If you, like thousands of other people, are thinking about Phuket for a second home or retirement, then you’ll want to keep your eye on the Phuket Insider.

Outrigger Comes to Phuket

Michael — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:19:55 +0000

Although already soft-launched, the new Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort officially opens on 2 April 2009. The full-service luxury resort is the first in Thailand to be managed by Outrigger, which is probably better known for its Hawaii properties. The Phuket property is located on Chalong Bay, on the southern coast of Phuket, about halfway between Chalong Pier and Rawai beach. A second Phuket resort, the much larger West Sands Outrigger Resort, is scheduled to open in the northern Mai Khao area late this year.

With only 78 one- and two-bedroom apartments, a holistic wellness spa, fully equipped gym, infinity pool and wireless internet throughout the complex, the Outrigger sounds like the perfect retreat. If the above facilities aren’t enough, full butler service is available, as are the services of the hotel chefs to cook a meal in your room, since most rooms have full kitchens. Then there’s hotels own 28 meter twin-masted private yacht, available for dinner cruises, island charters or corporate events.

Outrigger sounds like the perfect base for an active, extended holiday in Phuket. Have a look.

Phuket POSH For Less

Michael — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:06:25 +0000

What’s better than staying at a luxurious pool villa on one of Thailand’s idyllic tropical islands? Staying there for free, of course. I’m cross-posting this from my main travel journal, since the Laguna resort includes some very POSH places, like the Banyan Tree.

If you were planning to visit Phuket this year, then you really should book your stay now, and get a free night with your stay. The Laguna resorts are all participating in the "100,000 Smiles" promotion, which gives one free night’s stay with any booking of two nights or more. All you have to do is book directly with the hotels, before 31 March 2009, and your free night will be added to your confirmed reservation.

Book through the following web sites to get our free night:

See the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s web site for even more holiday deals.

More POSH Hotels for Phuket

Michael — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:01:10 +0000

The rest of the world may have the financial equivalent of pneumonia, but the luxury property market on Phuket just seems to have a minor case of the sniffles. Hospitality consulting firm C9 Hotelworks, based in Phuket, reports that there are nearly 5,000 new hotel rooms in the pipeline for Phuket over the next three years, and most of them are major luxury brands. Among the big name resorts set to open are:

Renaissance Resort
Hyatt Regency
Shangri-la
Langham Place
Wyndham Vacation Resort
Centara Grand
Taj Exotica
Westin
Four Points by Sheraton
Jumeirah Private Island
Raffles
Regent

The developments are happening all over the island, as well as southern Phang Nga province. In addition to the new brands, existing chains such as Marriott are expanding with more properties, in all price categories. In all, there are about 30 new hotels scheduled by the end of 2011. Only a few of these have slowed down their projects, and none are “troubled”, as C9 puts it.

I only hope I’ll get a chance to inspect some of these new planes personally (hint-hint).